The health benefits of cumin include its ability to aid in digestion, improve immunity and treat piles, insomnia, respiratory disorders, asthma, bronchitis, common cold, lactation, anemia, skin disorders, boils and cancer.Many of you might remember having hated those curries and soups which had roasted or fried cumin seeds in them when you were kids, because they looked like small black insects. However, you probably liked the taste. So your mother might have removed these flavorful parts before she served you the food. That was cumin!Cumin, scientifically known as Cuminum Cyminum, belongs to family Apiaceae and is extensively used in culinary practices of the Indian Subcontinent and some other Asian, African and Latin American countries as a condiment or spice. Those who are of the opinion that spices are bad for one’s health should note that cumin can be beneficial for some of the most dangerous diseases, and is generally consider a boost for overall health. Let’s explore just how it benefits your health in the section below.

Health Benefits of Cumin

The health benefits of cumin include the following:

Digestion: Cumin is extremely good for digestion and related problems. The very aroma of cumin, which comes from an aromatic organic compound called Cuminaldehyde, the main component of its essential oil, activates our salivary glands in our mouth, which facilitates the primary digestion of food. Next is thymol, a compound present in cumin, which stimulates the glands that secrete acids, bile and enzymes responsible for complete digestion of the food in the stomach and the intestines. Cumin is also Carminative, which means that it relieves from you from gas troubles and thereby improves digestion and appetite. Due to its essential oils, magnesium and sodium content, cumin promotes digestion and also gives relief for stomach-aches when taken with hot water.

Piles: The main cause behind piles (hemorrhoids) is constipation added with infections in the wound in the anal tract, which are also caused by constipation. Cumin, because of its dietary fiber content and carminative, stimulating, antifungal and antimicrobial properties, acts as a natural laxative in powdered form. These characteristics are due to the presence of essential oils comprised mainly of Cuminaldehyde and certain pyrazines. Adding cumin to your diet also helps in healing up of infections or wounds in the digestive and excretory system and speeds up digestion as well. That pretty much means that cumin clears up all of the symptoms and causes of hemorrhoids, so keep that it mind when you start itching!

Diabetes: Although research is still ongoing, early studies report that cumin, among a number of other spices, can have a powerful effect in preventing diabetes by reducing the chances of hypoglycemia. The animals that were tested showed a sharp decline in hypoglycemia when fed cumin seeds in their diet, and they also showed a decrease in glucosuria, which is a condition where the urine contains too much glucose, also resulting in hypoglycemia and diabetes. Human testing is ongoing, but early reports show that cumin can be a very powerful tool in the battle against diabetes!

Insomnia: This is a very peculiar property of cumin. It is a stimulant as well as a relaxant at the same time. This property cannot be attributed to a single component alone, just as causes of insomnia cannot be attributed to a single cause. However, studies show that the proper intake of vitamins (particularly B-complex) and good digestion help to induce a sound sleep. Cumin helps in both of these factors. Some of the components of cumin essential oil are hypnotic in nature and have tranquilizing effects, which also help to relieve stress and anxiety that commonly causes insomnia.

Respiratory Disorders, Asthma, Bronchitis: The presence of caffeine (the stimulating agent), and the richly aromatic essential oils (the disinfectants) make cumin an ideal anticongestive combination for those suffering from respiratory disorders such as asthma and bronchitis. It acts as an expectorant, meaning that it loosens up the accumulated phlegm and mucus in the respiratory tracts and makes it easier to eliminate them from the system via sneezing or coughing up and spitting. By eliminating as much of the mucus and phlegm as possible, it can inhibit the formation of additional material and help to heal the initial condition that led to its formation in the first place.

Common Cold: The common cold is a viral infection which affects our body frequently when our immune system becomes weakened or vulnerable. Again, the essential oils present in cumin act as disinfectants and help fight viral infections which can cause the common cold. Cumin also suppresses the development of coughing in the respiratory system since it dries up the excess mucus. Cumin is rich in iron and has considerable amount of vitamin-C, which are essential for a healthy immune system and keeps infections from forming or becoming worse. Vitamin-C is also a natural antioxidant, so it defends against other infections and toxins as well, further boosting the immune system.

Lactation: Cumin is rich in iron and thus very good for lactating mothers as well as for women who are undergoing menses or who are pregnant, since they are more in need of iron than others. Moreover, cumin is said to help ease and increase secretion of milk in lactating women due to the presence of thymol, which tends to increase secretions from our glands, including milk, which is a secretion from the mammary glands. Also, cumin is more beneficial if taken with honey. Cumin has remarkable amount of calcium (more than 900 mg per 100 grams) which accounts for over 90% of our daily requirement of calcium. This calcium is an important constituent of milk and hence cumin is very good for lactating mothers.

Anemia: As stated above, cumin is very rich in iron (more than 66 mg. in every 100 grams) which is more than 5 times the daily requirement of iron for an adult. This iron is the main constituent of hemoglobin in the red blood corpuscles of blood. It is hemoglobin which transfers oxygen (as the oxide of iron) to the body’s cells and whose deficiency causes anemia. So, cumin can be a nutritious additive to daily diet for anemic people and avoid the symptoms of anemia like fatigue, anxiety, cognitive malfunction, and digestive issues.

Concentration and Cognitive Malfunction: The amount of iron in cumin leads to increased hemoglobin production and subsequent prevention of anemia, but that increased blood flow has other benefits as well. When your blood circulation is in top form, adequate amounts of oxygen are able to reach the organs and the brain, leading to optimal performance of those bodily systems. Proper amounts of oxygen and iron in the brain lead to increased cognitive performance and a decrease in cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. For other organs, increased oxygenation increases efficiency and speeds up the metabolism, which can boost your overall health, increase strength, and prevent signs of aging.

Skin Disorders: Almost everyone knows that vitamin-E is good for the maintenance of skin and the prevention of premature aging symptoms. It keeps the skin young and glowing. This vitamin is also present in abundance in cumin. The essential oils present in cumin have disinfectant and antifungal properties. This prevents any microbial and fungal infection from affecting the skin. Not all skin issues are disorders or infections, some of them are simply signs of aging. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant in this regard and combats the free radicals that attack the skin and result in signs of premature aging like wrinkles, age spots, and sagging skin. This, combined with the antibacterial capacity of cumin, makes for healthy, beautiful skin that lasts far into your old age.

Boils: Boils are outlets for the removal of toxic substances and foreign matters such as microbes from the body. This means that they are symptoms which show that a high amount of toxic substances have accumulated in the body. In this way, cumin can help you a great deal. Those who regularly use cumin in food have a significant reduction in the occurrence of boils, rashes, pimples, and other signs of excess toxin content. Components such as cuminaldehyde, thymol, and phosphorus are good detoxifying agents which help in the regular removal of toxins from the body. The healthy way of removing toxins is through the excretory system, not through boils.

Immunity: As discussed above, an abundance of iron, the presence of essential oils, vitamin-C, and vitamin-A in cumin boosts our immune system in a number of ways. Vitamin C is one of the most powerful antioxidants that we have in our body, and it also stimulates the function and activity of white blood cells. As an antioxidant, vitamin C fights the detrimental effects of free radicals, which are the dangerous byproducts of cellular metabolism. They are constantly being created in the body, and therefore, must be constantly eliminated. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals that lead to many diseases, including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

Cancer: Cumin itself has detoxifying and chemopreventive properties, and accelerates the secretion of detoxifying and anticarcinogenic enzymes from the glands, as it also does to other secretions. Furthermore, it has beneficial antioxidants like vitamin-C and vitamin-A within its chemical makeup, in addition to those essential oils. Besides having countless other benefits, the antioxidants have anticarcinogenic properties too, and those found in cumin are particularly good for colon cancer prevention.

Other benefits: Even more? Cumin is also beneficial in treating renal coli, weak memory, insect bites and painful stings. With all of these benefits, how could you say no? Add some cumin to your diet as soon as you can!

Subscribe

just dissolve the seeds in your mouth and ground it with your teeth. It is a miracle.

http://yahoo Elizabeth

How do you use cumin in teas

irene harvey

just add some powder available in bulk at health food stores. i put it in green tea–the flavor is not too strong. works great.

Hira Abdul karim

yes it does , i been using this since i reach puberty to ease the pain. just dissolve this in warm water and drink it.

sam

just dissolve the seeds in your mouth and ground it with your teeth. It is a miracle.

pat

How and where can l get cumin?

http://www.organicfacts.net Meenakshi Nagdeve

Please check with your local market or you can buy it online
Regards,
Team Organic Facts

Seema Mathew

Cumin is sold in indian stores in 400gram bags. Its one of the main staples in my spice cabinet! I use it for cooking as well as boiling in water for digestion/colds etc.

Gerri Ford

Kroger and Walmart sells it. Almost every super market

http://google suzette

How much ground cumin should I use daily for weight loss and digestive problems. Is it save to use a teaspoonful a day in yogurt?

http://www.organicfacts.net Meenakshi Nagdeve

Hello Suzette, Cumin powder can be added to your daily food. You can add it to yogurt but do not use too much for small quantities of yogurt

Nancy McShane

Can cumin powder be put into vegetable capsules & taken orally? I like the taste in foods but can’t see myself eating it multiple times a day (I don’t care much for the seeds). I’d much rather make it into a pill that can be taken along w/my meds & supplements.

nancy: they sell the capsules. swanson is one brand. you can also get the powder in health food stores. i buy it in bulk & add it to anything including the green tea i drink all day long. it’s cheap & easy that way. the taste is not that strong.

DEBORAH FENNELL

CUMIN HAS NOW BECOME MY GO TO FOR EVERYTHING. PERFECT SALT SUBSTITUTE! HAD IT ON HARD BOILED EGGS, MUSHROOMS & VEGGIE PATTIE WITH TOAST FOR BREAKFAST. ANYTHING I PUT IT ON GETS IT’S OWN UNIQUE FLAVOR SO IT’S GOOD ON EVERYTHING!! WHAT A FIND FOR A HEALTH NUT!! MIND, BODY & SOUL. <;}

Robert Idonije

Plz, where can I get Cumin and beetroot to buy in Lagos.

Alice Abiera

Awesome Information, Thank You!!!

Rose tincher

It’s a teaspoon a day for weight lose. I heard it on the John Tess show.

Gerri Ford

You lose weight really fast on cumin because cumin speeds up your metabolism. Not too much though.

patricia

I am on chemo for colon cancer can I take this and not have it conflict with my chemo? There are many herbs I can’t have

http://www.organicfacts.net Meenakshi Nagdeve

Hello Patricia, Please consult your doctor.

http://batman-news.com MamaBoipelo

I am learning here. This is interesting.

Tracy

If i was to take cumin each day in what form do I take it and how much?
Thanks

irene harvey

they have capsules you can take (swanson brand) or you can buy cumin powder in bulk & sprinkle it on food & into beverages.
it’s really nice. i have ibs & it’s the only thing that’s helped so far.

Interrobang

I recently had an odd experience with cumin.

I read about its benefits for weight loss and decided to give it a try. I have severe inattentive ADD and have an appointment next coming up with my doctor in which I was prepared to beg for ADD medication because my life is a mess.

But after adding cumin to my tea I noticed a surge in cognitive function. At first I thought it might be a freak coincidence, an anomaly, but after experimenting with taking cumin and not taking cumin, I can definitely say cumin has had a major positive effect on my cognitive functioning.

I’ve tried every herbal cure for ADD and nothing has helped — that’s why I was going to go to my doctor and beg for meds! But now apparently I can just take cumin!